Magnetic collector and neutralizing element for engines and the like



March 17, 1959 H. A. HUTCHINS ETAL 2,877,899 MAGNETIC COLLECTOR ANDNEUTRALIZING ELEMENT FOR ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed April 4, 1955 liraj;

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United States Patent MAGNETIC COLLECTOR AND NEUTRALIZING ELEMENT FORENGINES AND THE LIKE Hugh A. Hutchins, Temple City, and Bruce C. Jones,Monrovia, Calif., assignors to Ernest J. N ewhouse, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 4, 1955, Serial No. 499,079 4 Claims. (Cl. 210-222)This invention has to do with a magnetic collector and neutralizingelement for engines and the like, and is particularly concerned with adrain plug attachment for use on crank cases of internal combustionengines.

In the operating of internal combustion engines considerable wear andcorrosion of parts takes place due to metal particles and acids that arecarried through the engine by the oil or lubricant employed. The metalparticles are in the nature of filings and have cutting action, whilethe acids, for example, sulphuric acid, present in and liberated fromthe oil are highly corrosive. These factors result in shortened enginelife.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an element that maybe easily attached to an engine which element collects metal particlesand neutralizes the acids contained in the lubricants employed in theengine.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment of the characterreferred to that is adapted to be applied to an engine crank casewithout modifying any of the parts thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an acid neutralizingelement as above referred to, which sacrifices itself to the acidscontained in the lubricant employed in the engine.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a magneticcollector and neutralizing element which may be universally applied toengine constructions, and which is easily removed, cleaned and replacedwithout the modifying of any of the parts of the element, or of theengine to which the element is applied.

The various objects and features of our invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of our invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a typical engine to which the element of thepresent invention is shown applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailedsectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l, and Fig. 3is a perspective view of the element of the present invention shownseparated from the engine.

The magnetic collector and neutralizing element of the present inventionis adapted to be applied to or attached to a wide variety of. machinesin various manners as circumstances require. The element we provide isparticularly adapted to automotive engines, and, therefore, we haveshown a typical situation wherein the element Z of the present inventionis applied to an engine X.

The engine X is characterized by a cylinder block 10, a cylinder head11, a clutch housing 12, and a crank case 13. The cylinder block is atypical engine block having cylinder bores that carry reciprocatingpistons. The cylinder head 11 is a typical head that closes the upperend of the block 10 and accommodates the usual ignition parts and valvegear. The clutch housing 12 is a typical housing enclosing the flywheel, and the crank case 13 is a typical case or pan that houses thecrank and connecting rods and associated parts.

The crank case 13 is a vessel-like structure adapted to catch andcontain the supply of lubricant employed to operate the engine and is,therefore, provided with a sump 14 forming a reservoir to handle theoil. It is apparent that as particles settle in the sump they fall tothe bottom of the sump which is the lowermost part of the engine. Inaccordance with the usual construction the engine is supplied with asuitable drain plug Y.

The drain plug Y is of ordinary form and construction and involves athreaded closure 20 with a head 21. The closure 20 is threadedly carriedin an opening 24 in a boss 22 at the lower end or bottom of the sump 14so that the head 21 is at the exterior of the crank case and so that itis engageable by a tool such as a wrench or the like. The plug Y isadapted to be rotated for installation or removal of the plug from theboss 22. The end of the closure 20 opposite the head 21 has a face 23 ina plane normal to the axis of the plug Y.

The magnetic collector and neutralizing element Z that we have providedinvolves, generally, an attaching means A, an acid neutralizing means B,a coupling C, and a metal collecting means D. The attaching means A isprovided to secure the element Z to the engine structure while the acidneutralizing means B and magnetic collector means D are suspended in theoil contained in the sump 14 and are secured to the attaching means A bymeans of the coupling C.

The attaching means A is provided to secure the element Z of the presentinvention to one of the engine parts at the interior of the engine to besubmerged in the oil contained therein. In the preferred case We attachthe element Z to the plug Y hereinabove described and, as shown, theattaching means A is a magnetic means involving a simple permanentmagnet 25. The permanent magnet 25 may be of any suitable form or shapeand is preferably a simple horse-shoe magnet having a pair of legs 26and 27 of opposite polarity. In practice, the permanent magnet 25 is ofa single integral body of magnetic material capable of receiving andretaining a substantial charge of magnetism, and is cylindrical in crosssection and of somewhat smaller diameter than the opening 24. The legs26 and 27 terminate in a common plane and are cngageable with the endface 23 of the closure 20. It will be readily understood that thepermanent magnet 25 may be secured to any suitable engine part ascircumstances require.

The acid neutralizing means B is provided to eliminate the effect ofacids in the lubricating oil so that the engine parts are not affectedthereby. In accordance with the invention the means B that we providesacrifices itself in order to neutralize the acids carried by thelubricant and may involve a body of any suitable acid neutralizingmaterial. In practice, we employ a body 30 of magnesium or zinc, or thelike, since such material is acted upon to a much greater degree thanthe other materials used in the construction of engines. The body 30 ofmagnesium may be of any suitable form or shape, however, in practice, itis preferably cyiindrical in form and somewhat smaller in diameter thanthe opening 24 so that it is readily passed through the opening and intothe interior of the crank case 13.

It will be apparent that the body 30 of magnesium which is submerged inthe oil will be attacked more readily than the other materials of theengine construction, thereby eliminating the acids by chemical actionand with the result that the engine parts are protected against thecorrosive action of the acids.

The coupling means C is provided to join the attaching means A with theacid neutralizing means B in a manner that is universal so that theelement Z is adapted to be applied to a wide variety of situations.Since it is desirable to locate the active parts of the element Z in thelowermost part or portion of the crank case 13, the coupling means C isa flexible means involving a flexible connector 35 that extends betweenthe means A and means B. In practice, the connector 35 may be a lengthof cord, such a metal cord or wire, or may be of a length of chain orthe like.

As shown, the flexible connector 35 is fastened to the attaching means Aby means of solder at 36 and is passed through a bore 37 extendingthrough the body 30 of the neutralizing means B. The bore 37 extendsthrough the body 30 from one end thereof, there being a counterbore 39entering the other end of the body forming a shoulder 40 intermediatethe ends thereof. The flexible connector 35 is tied at 38 forming a knotthat engages with and is stopped by the shoulder 40. It will be apparenthow the attaching means A and acid neutralizing means B are insertedthrough the opening 24 and how the means B will lie upon the bottom ofthe crank case out of the path of the working parts of the engine, suchas the crank and connecting rods, etc.

The metal collecting means D is provided to attract and collect metallicparticles carried by the oil, that is, to collect iron particles thathave become dislodged from the engine parts and which ordinarily floatin suspension throughout the engine. The collecting means D is amagnetic means and involves a simple elongate bar 45 of magneticmaterial charged with a magnetic flux and secured to the attaching meansA. In practice, the bar 45 is carried by the acid neutralizing means B,preferably in the counterbore 39 entering one end of the body 30. Thebar 45 is charged with magnetism and is a simple cylindrical partpressed into the bore 39.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have provided anextremely simple and inexpensive device for neutralizing the acids in anengine and which is effective in collecting metallic particles. Theelement of the present invention as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, is easily inserted into the interior of the engine through theopening 24 and is easily retracted from the engine through said openingfor periodic cleaning, if necessary. The magnesium neutralizing bodyshown in the preferred form of the invention lies on the bottom of thesump 14 and is extremely effective in attracting and acting upon theacids carried by the lubricant and will last a substantial length oftime before it is necessary 'that it be replaced. Both of the magnetsinvolved are effective in collecting metal particles.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of ourinvention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves anyvariations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An improved magnetic collector for use in the crank case of aninternal combustion engine to remove metallic particles from thelubricating oil, said crank case having a drain opening and a drain plugremovably secured in said drain opening, comprising, a solid cylindricalholder having an opening extending longitudinally inwardly from one endthereof, a magnet secured within said opening and having a substantialportion thereof exposed for direct contact with the lubricating oil inthe crankcase, flexible means having one end attached to said holder andthe other end adapted for attachment to said drain plug, said holderwhen lying upon the bottom of said crankcase maintaining said magnetspaced from the bottom of said crankcase, said holder consistingessentially of an acid neutralizing material.

2. A combined drain-plug and improved magnetic collector for use in thecrank case of an internal combustion engine to remove metallic particlesfrom the lubricating oil, said crankcase having a drain opening whereinsaid drain plug may be removably secured in said drain opening,comprising, an elongated, solid metallic cylindrical holder having anopening extending longitudinally inwardly from one end thereof, a magnetsecured within said opening and having a substantial portion thereofexposed for direct contact with the lubricating oil in the crankcase,flexible means having one end attached to said holder and the other endattached to said drain plug, said flexible means being of a lengthsufiicient to enable said holder to rest upon the bottom of a crankcasewhen said plug is secured to the drain opening thereof, said holdermaintaining said magnet spaced from the bottom of said crankcase, saidholder consisting essentially of a metallic acid neutralizing metalselected from the group consisting of zinc and magnesium.

3. A combined drain-plug and improved magnetic collector for use in thecrankcase of an internal combustion engine to remove metallic particlesfrom the lubricating oil, said crankcase having a drain opening whereinsaid drain plug may be removably secured in said drain opening,comprising, an elongated, solid metallic cylindrical holder having anopening extending longitudinally inwardly from one end thereof, a magnetsecured within said opening and having a substantial portion thereofextending outwardly beyond said opening, flexible means having one endattached to said holder and the other end attached to said drain plug,said flexible means being of a length suflicient to enable said holderto rest upon the bottom of a crankcase when said plug is secured to thedrain opening thereof, said holder maintaining said magnet spaced fromthe bottom of said crank case, said holder consisting essentially of ametallic acid neutralizing metal selected from the group consisting ofzinc and magnesium.

4. Combined drain-plug and improved magnet collector as defined in claim2 wherein said other end of said flexible means has a magnet thereon forremovably attaching said other end to said drain plug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.20,291 Bock Mar. 9,1937 1,752,050 Young Mar. 25, 1930 1,831,094 ClayesNov. 10, 1931 1,932,143 Piercy Oct. 24, 1933 2,436,740 Brooks Feb. 24,1948 2,507,213 McConnell May 9, 1950 2,698,090 Chievitz Dec. 28, 1954OTHER REFERENCES Abstract of application Ser. No. 48,672, published June10, 1952, 659 O. G. 590.

